As parents, one of our biggest goals is to help build our child’s confidence so that they can go out into the world with the skills to make new friends, build relationships, engage at school, get a job and when supporting a child with a disability we know this can often be a challenge if we don’t have the right supports in place.
It’s really important to know how you can use your child’s NDIS funding to work towards these skills, and this resource will help you understand:
- Making new friends
- Trying new things
- Maintaining relationships
- Getting out into the community
- Managing behaviours and emotions
- Building independence
- Therapies – Occupational therapy, Psychology & Counselling, Art/Animal therapy, Behavioural therapy
- Social skills groups – such as in person or online courses, classes & camps
- Parent & Carer training – training to support parents in building their child’s social skills
- Support workers & mentors – Assistance in using these skills day to day when out in the community
- Assistance with Social, Community & Civic Participation (CORE)
- 04_104_0125_6_1 – 04_404_0104_1_1_T – Access Community Social and Rec Activ (standard to high intensity)
- 04_102_0136_6_1 – 04_604_0104_6_1 – Group Activities (standard to high intensity)
- 04_111_0136_6_1 – 04_184_0136_6_1 – Group Activities in the community or a centre (Standard – 1:1 – 1:5)
- 04_116_0104_6_1 – 04_209_0104_6_1 – Group Activities in the community or a centre (High Intesity – 1:1 – 1:5)
- 04_210_0125_6_1 – Community Social and Recreational Activities
- Increased Social & Community Participation (CAPACITY BUILDING)
- 09_006_0106_6_3 – Life Transition Planning Incl. Mentoring PeerSupport And Indiv Skill Develop
- 09_009_0117_6_3 – Skill Development and Training
- 09_008_0116_6_3 – Innovative Community Participation
- 09_011_0125_6_3 – Community Participation Activities
- Improved Daily Living (CAPACITY BUILDING)
- 15_037_0117_1_3 – Skill Development And Training including Public Transport Training
- 15_038_0117_1_3 – Training For Carers/Parents
- 15_045_0128_1_3 – Community Engagement Assistance
- Improved Relationships (CAPACITY BUILDING)
- 11_024_0117_7_3 – Individual Social Skills Development
What are some keywords you can use to relate your goals to building social skills?
- Capacity building
- Social engagement
- Social skill development
- Increased social and community participation
- Regulating emotions
Let’s look at some of the outcomes that may want your child to achieve by building their social skills:
- Making new friends
- Having fewer meltdowns
- Try new hobbies & learn new things
- Learn how to communicate
- Manage their anger, aggression or emotions
How might these goals look in my plan?
You can link the keywords/skills and outcomes shown above to create a goal:
- I’d like my child to learn how to communicate better so they can …. (make friends, reduce meltdowns)
- I’d like my child to learn how to regulate their emotions so they can… (have fewer meltdowns, manage their anger/aggressions, make new friends)
- I’d like my child to try new hobbies so they can.. (build their social capacity, meet new people, engage in the community)
- I’d like my child to build their social skills so they can… (make friends, maintain relationships, build their capacity)
- Wait until your plan review and discuss this goal and funding at that stage
- Request an EARLIER plan review with your LAC/NDIS representative. You will need gather reports from your current therapists and explain why this additional funding is required or if there has been a change in circumstance
Who do I contact to discuss this funding?
It is best to call your NDIS representative or LAC to discuss your options if you wish to have additional funding included specifically for these supports. In most cases, you may be required to submit additional supporting evidence, or justification as to why your current funding is insufficient or doesn’t meet your goals.
